Method and apparatus for heating oil



Patented July 2, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE- ALBERT W. MORSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING OIL.

Application filed June 13, 1927. Serial No. 198,555.

This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for heating oil.

It is the particular object of the nvention to provide simple andeflicient means to raise the temperature of fuel oil supplied to theburner of an oil fired furnace to such a degree that it can be burnedsatisfactorily.

Another object is to accomplish this result with a compact structurewhich is imbedded in the furnace.

A further object is to providemeans in the heater structure permittingof ready renewal of those parts which are subjected to intense heatwithout the necessity of interrupting the flow of oil to the burner.

A still further object is to automatically regulate the rate of flow-ofoil within the heater structure according toits temperature in order toobtain a uniform temperature of oil at the discharge end of the heater.

Still further objects will become apparent in the followingspecification in which a preferred embodiment of my invention isdescribed. The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of the front of a furnaceequipped for the use of oil as fuel;

"Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view along the plane of line 22 inFig. 1; J

. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view along the plane of line 33in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along the plane of line4-4. in 'Flg. 2.

Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the severalviews and the following specification.

The entire heater and burner parts are shown diagrammatically inexterior views only, being well known in the art. 1

is a furnace having a front wall 11 and side walls 12 and a floor 13,usually of fire bricks, defining acombustion chamber or firebox 1 1. I

15 is an oil supply pipe connected to an oil pump (not shown) whichforces oil into this pipe from an oil tank (not shown). 16 and 16 aretubes projecting into thefurnace and joined together at their inner endsby a return bend 17 These tubes are connected to the oil supply pipe 15by elbows 18 and 18 forming a long U-shaped loop 19 in the oil pipe. 20and 20 are union connections in the oil line 15 at both sides of theloop 19. 21 and 21 are cut-out valves in the oil pipe 15 near each ofthe union connections 20 and 20*.

the burner to the tank.

22 and 22 are T connections near, respectively, the outlet side ofcut-out valve 21 and the inlet side of cut-out valve'21. ply pipe 15 iscontinued at substantially right angles at T 22 to a similar T 23 andthrough the same to a' burner 24. 25 is. a bypass pipe connecting T 23with T 22 by means of an elbow connection 26. 27 is a by-pass valveinterposed between. T 23 and elbow 26'. 28 is a union connection and 29an automatic stop and check valve in the oil supply pipe 15 at the inletend of the T 22*, and 30 is a union connection in the oil line 15 at theoutlet end of T 23. j

The burner 24 is rigged up in front of the furnace 10 in alignment witha combustion block 31 through which the combustible mixture from theburner is discharged into the combustion chamber 14.

32 is a return pipe for the surplusoil from In the oil return pipe 32 isplaced a thermostatic control valve 34 is a flexible connection from thethermostatic valve 33 to an expansible element 35 inserted into the oilsupply pipe 15 at T 22. The thermostatic valve 33 is of a kind in whicha valve member is reciprocated by an expansible element such as 35 whichtrans mits its motion by the flexible connection 34 to the valve memberand opens thevalve when expanded and permits it to close whencontracted. Closely adjacent to thermostatic valve 33 T s 36 and36 areplaced in the oil return line 32 and connected by suitable elbows 37 and37 to a by-pass pipe 38 equipped with a bypass valve 39. v

The inwardly projecting loop 19 of the oil supply pipe 15 is encasedwith fire bricks 40 forming a chamber 11. One wall of the chamber 41,preferably the top wall, isprovided with a series of openings 42.: l

The operation of my device is as follows:

Oil is pumped from the oil tank into the oil supply pipe 15 under fullline pressure and passes through the automatic stop and check valve29,'through valve 21 into tubes 16 and 16, and thence through valve 21andjTs 22 and 23 into the burner 24; which isadjusted to dischargethedesired quantityof oil admixed with air or steam through block 31 intothe combustion chamber 14 where ignition takes place in the manner wellknown in the art. The surplus oil is returned to the oil tank by way ofthe oil return pipe 32 through thermostatic valve 33. The oil, whilepassing through the loop 19 in the oil The oil supsupply pipe 15, issubjected to a high degree of heat from the fire in the combustionchamber 14 and the radiant heat from the firebricks surrounding it. Itis obvious that by varying the openings 42 and the size of the chambertl, as well as the length of the loop 19, the degree of heat imparted tothe oil may be governed to a certain extent to suit various localconditions. The principal purpose of this invention, however, is to socontrol the temperature of the oil that the same will be uniform at theburner. As soon as the desired temperature is reached, the expansibleelement 35 in direct line of oil travel after the oil leaves the loop 19expands to such a degree that it opens the thermostatic control valve toan extent permitting a high rate of flow of oil through the loop 19.This causes the temperature of the oil to drop, because of itsrelatively quick passage through the tubes 16 and 16*, when theexpansible element 35 will be contracted by the drop of temperature ofthe oil passing it which permits the opening in the valve 33 to bereduced or closed. This retards the flow of oil through the tubes andcauses a subsequent rise of ten'iperature of the oil at the burner. Thusa uniform temperature of the oil at the burner is achievedautomatically.

Normally, the by-pass valve 27 in the oil' supply pipe 15 is closed.Should, however, it be found expedient to remove the tubes 16 and 16 forreplacement or repairs, the cutout valves 21 and 21" are closed and thebypass valve 27 opened. The oil is then bypassed through pipe 25, whilethe tubes may easily be Withdrawn from the chamber 11 by uncouplingunion connections and 20 Similarly, toy-pass valve 39 in the return line32 is normally closed, but should the thermostatic valve 33 not functionproperly, it can be kept closed by suitable weights or other means andthe oil returned through pipe 38, and by-pass valve 39 may be manuallyadjusted to a required opening. The automatic stop and check valve isplaced in the oil supply line as a safety feature. This valve closesinstantly in case of a leak in the oil line at any point of the device,so that there is no danger of flooding the fire chamber with oil, eventhough the tubes should burn out.

The device can be very conveniently marketed by supplying it completefrom union connection 28 to union connection 30, and valve with by-pass39 as assembled between Ts 36 and 36 In this manner it is suitable forapplication to any type of oil burning installation in which oil isconducted to a burner and surplus oil returned to a tank.

Various changes of form, proportion, minor details and combination ofparts may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.Moreover, while I have referred in the specification and the claims tothe heating apparatus as a furnace, itis to be distinctly understoodthat this term is to cover any form of heating equipment used inconnectionwith boilers, also metallurgical furnaces, kilns or the like.

What I claim as new, is:

1. The method of heating oil supplied to the burner of an oil firedfurnace which conin subjecting the-oil to the heat Within the firebox ofthe furnace and automatically regulating the time the oil is subjectedto the said heat to effect a uniform temperature at the burner.

2. The method of heating oil supplied to the burner of an oil firedfurnace 'which consists in subjecting the oil to the heat Within thefirebox of the furnace and thermostati- "ally regulating the time theoil is subjected to the said heat to effect a uniform temperature at theburner.

3. In combination with an oil fired furnace having a burner, an oilsupply pipe to the burner and an oil return pipe from the burner, a loopin, the oil supply pipe projecting into the furnace and exposed to theheat therein, and thermostatic means to vary the rate of how of oilthrough the said loop.

4. In combination with an oil fired furnace having a burner, an oilsupply pipe to the burner and an oil return pipe from the burner, a loopin the oil supply pipe projecting into the furnace and exposed to theheat therein, a valve in the oil return pipe, and thermostatic means toopen the valve when the temperature of the oil within the loop reaches apredetermined degree and to close the valve when the temperature dropsbelow a predetermined degree. 7

5. In combination with an oil fired furnace having a burner, an oilsupply pipe to the burner and an oil return pipe from the burner, a loopin the oil supply pipe projecting into tne furnace and exposed to theheat therein, an expansible element in the oil supply pipe between theloop and the burner, and a valve in the oil return pipe, the saidexpansible element being operably connected to the said valve and beingadapted to open the valve when expanded and to close the valve whencontracted.

6. In combination with an oil fired furnace having a burner, an oilsupply pipe to the burner and an oil return pipe from the burner, a loopin the oil supply pipe project ing into the furnace, walls of refractorymaerial surrounding.the said loop defining a chamber having with thefire box of the furnace, and thermostatic means to vary the rate of flowof oil through the said loop to effect a uniform temperature of oil atthe burner.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

ALBERT IV. MORSE.

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